2017 Dates and (Incredibly Belated) Response to 2016 Feedback

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

Hey guys,

It's not really quite that time yet, but I have been devilishly organised -- WORSHIP ME -- and started making bookings. So can confirm at this early juncture that the dates for this year's get/together will be the weekend of 7 and 8 October, and as always the bracketting 6 and 9 for those who are in town/can take leave/would like to make a long weekend of it.

I do strongly recommend out-of-towners make accommodation plans as quickly as they reasonably can, as the World of Wearable Arts complication seems to be multiplying with each passing year.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to offer feedback on last year's g/t, and apologies for never quite getting around to responding. I did hugely appreciate it all, and fortunately totally agreed too. Love it when that happens!

Extended Hours Saturday:

"I really enjoyed the longer run time on Saturday. It made my day feel less pressured, and I felt positive about being able to have more breaks between scheduled items instead of rushing." -- arysteia

"I too really enjoyed the longer runtime on Saturday this year. THOUGH I AM DOOMED TO NEVER BE ABLE TO FINISH MY VIDSHOWS. DDD: Maybe book the hall until even later - not so we'd necessarily plan on using it, but so the time's there if we need it." -- maudlinrose

"Saturday! I liked it long, too, and pub quiz & vids are actually pretty fun to have later. (I would have happily stuck around for the last five vids, personally.)" -- labellementeuse

"In principle I think the longer Saturday is a good idea. This year it was just a problem of me not listening to my body telling me to take it easy *g*." -- kiwisue

"Obviously I don't have previous years to compare to, but I really enjoyed the long Saturday. It felt like just the right length, with enough time to get lots of content in, but still have breaks and not feel rushed." -- owlishfun

I feel like there's a quorum here for keeping extended hours. Obviously self care something to bear in mind.

Pizza Party:

"I also thought the 'pizza party' went very smoothly, and I want to take this opportunity to give a big thumbs up to everyone's ordering and cashing up skills." -- arysteia

"Next year I'd suggest we move some tables into the main hall for pizza/quiz, and that way people can eat while quizzing; I think that'd work well." -- maudlinrose

I think the only thing I didn't like was pub quiz being broken up by dinner/eating off non-plates in the room. (This is because I am a nut who hates lap dinner.) I think I would have preferred it if a 30-minute dinner break had been scheduled in before or after pub quiz instead of in the middle just so I could stretch my legs a little bit, sit at the table and eat, etc. -- labellementeuse

The idea of tables for pizza is a great one! I liked the pizza quiz and thought it fit nicely in the evening time slot. -- dewey3067

"I really loved the Saturday format & agree that pizza while playing pub quiz would be A+." -- blademistress

Can I get some follow up/additional opinions on the 'set up tables for pizza during quiz' vs 'dinner first, quiz second' suggestions?

Reduced Hours Sunday:

"Sunday was less good for me; we were up against the clock, and we made the best of it, but it felt like a little bit of an anti climax. I would return to a full day here for preference." -- arysteia

"For Sunday, I think you're right, and a return to the traditional 5-6pm finish would be better." -- maudlinrose

"Sunday I agree, it was a tad wee bit rushed..." -- labellementeuse

"I agree that the Sunday did end somewhat anticlimactically (though it was still a brilliant day!), and I really regret not being able to attend the dinner but my ankle was killing me by the then and I was ready to head home." -- owlishfun

Again, I think there's a quorum here for returning to standard hours. Self care still a good thing!

Sunday Dinner/Drinks:

"It was a bit of a marathon for me coming up with a way for us to spend Sunday afternoon together; I was very conscious that transport is an issue, as well as finding a venue that can handle a large boisterous group, and there really aren't a lot of combined restaurant/bars that are happy for people to sit around all afternoon. I actually thought the Cutting did the job well, given our limitations, and I quite enjoyed being able to have a couple of drinks before dinner. I know it's not the most salubrious of venues, however, and I'm open to all suggestions re preferences for Sunday dinner next year." -- arysteia

"I did really enjoy spending a couple of hours drinking cider in a pub." -- maudlinrose

"I quite liked the drink before dinner and I thought the food was very nice! (Although food is my 11th priority on g/t weekend.) So not all bad, and it did mean that people who were on their last legs/had trains and planes to catch could make it. I didn't even mind the Cutting - hilariously out of our usual scene but it was warm and dry and the drinks were very, very cheap. (On the other hand: somewhere slightly more central would have made staying later a bit more comfortable for me.)" -- labellementeuse

Can I especially ask for further comments/suggestions here? The way I see it we have a few options: a) straight to Kilbirnie at ~7pm as in years past, choice of the Indian or the Thai based on majority vote; b) drinks at the Cutting, stay there for dinner (ie as last year but starting later); c) quick drink at the Cutting (or alternatively Gasworks in Miramar?) then to Kilbirnie for dinner. Otoh that's probably pushing dinner a bit late for some, otoh it may suit early leavers to come for a drink but skip dinner? Please make your voice heard here if nowhere else.

Content:

"There was some mention of maybe making the art segment a regular feature the way we do vids and I am very much in favour of that. I think if we have a full day on Sunday like we used to, that I'd also like another discussion panel." -- dewey3067

"I always enjoy the discussion sessions, any chance of another on Sunday if the program is expanded? Apart from talking about stuff, I enjoyed all the presentations with a special shout-out to the history ones, and both the art and podfic ones." -- kiwisue

"Thirding - I loved the shit out of the art presentation especially, and would greatly enjoy that becoming a regular event." -- maudlinrose

"An opportunity for 2 minute informal mini pimps." -- blademistress

Yes to all these things, but if you have any other ideas let's be having them.

Comments

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I got confused reading this, and it took me longer than it should to remember I wasn't there last year /o\

[china_shop]

I'm unlikely to come to dinner if there's drinks beforehand, but I don't know how likely I would be to come to dinner anyway, so you shouldn't organise things around my preferences. :-)

Glad the new format is working out so well, yay!

[morbane.livejournal.com]

Totally my own fault, but this is going to clash hugely with Yuletide tag sorting. I may be able to make it to in-town meal hang-outs, but not much else.

On the bright side, will be able to offer crash space - definitely a fold-out couch and possibly even a spare room.

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

Aw, man. I guess that's always/often going to be the case... D:

Continue to watch this space though, as lunch Friday/brunch Monday may work out better, as well as dinners both those days, as alternatives to Saturday/Sunday.

[jocondite.livejournal.com]

Suggestion for those who have time issues: five minute mini-pimps rather than two minutes?

Also how many pimps is too many?

[morbane.livejournal.com]

So now that we moved Yuletide a week (not my instigation, actually, but I'll take it) maybe I can come after all? *fingers crossed*

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha! When I first saw that I did wonder. But yay for fortuitous coincidences. *\o/*

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

Lol, I don't think there's actually a time limit, it's just "single digit minutes".

Rank your pimps in order and I'll see how many can fit once others start rolling in. ;-p

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[thecuriouskitty.livejournal.com]

Ah, excellent, this means I have not missed this year's get together! I greatly enjoyed my first time last year, but never check live journal these days (just logged on for the first time this year, literally just to see if there was an update here).

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

Hooray! I was hoping to hear from you guys! I was actually going to try to tweet you and re-establish contact that way.

I'm going to start updating in the next week or so, so this is really good timing. Maybe track the comm so you get the posts emailed to you? Or just check in a few times over the next couple of weeks. Can I assume you're in touch with the others and will give them a heads up?

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

- Pizza party: tables for the pizza would alleviate a lot of what I didn't like about lap dinner and everyone else digs it. Tables! We invented them for good. I realise we have minimal control over this, but if pizza can arrive at the start rather than interrupting the quiz I personally would prefer that but that is a very mild preference.

- Sunday shenanigans: I quite like the idea of a drink followed by dinner at The Cutting, or just going straight to dinner. I have a strong antipreference for going one place for drinks and another place for dinner. There may be value in preserving g/t as a very low-alcohol event (at least, it has been since I started coming, though I understand SLM days may have been different); otoh I tend to think one drink isn't much.

I actually quite liked the Cutting and IIRC it was in some ways a better environment to have a big group than the usual Kilbirnie haunts, but of course those spots are favourites for some and I don't feel very strongly about this. I have no strong restaurant preference.

Content
- no extra ideas but further support for pressganging Fizz into doing another art show again if she can, or someone else if she can't! That was a highlight of last year.

[thecuriouskitty.livejournal.com]

Hooray! I am in touch with the others but it may just be me this year. Erin is definitely unable to come due to heading Overseas On Adventures very shortly. Danielle has moved to Auckland but I will remind her that she could come have Fun Wellington Adventures if she wants!

Hey, is Get Together happening this year?

[mific (from livejournal.com)]

Just asking, as it's getting pretty close to October. Is there some other site for the comm now, for those of us not on twitter?

Re: Hey, is Get Together happening this year?

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

Were we not just chatting the other day? I deliberately left you a comment on an old post to make contact, and you replied to it???

Yes, we're on, for the dates as announced here. All the usual posts will be going up this week. I thought I said that too, but maybe it was to someone else, it's not easy to keep track now that everyone is scattered to the four winds. D:

Apologies if I was less clear than I thought...

RE: Re: Hey, is Get Together happening this year?

[mific (from livejournal.com)]

Ok, sorry, was just unsure about making bookings. Will wait for the posts. :)

Re: RE: Re: Hey, is Get Together happening this year?

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

No, no, go ahead, book! I promise we are happening. I have paid for the hall and everything. ;-p

Between lj going the way of the KGB and the ongoing fragmentation of fandom I've basically resorted to trying to track down everyone I know doesn't twitter by comment or email, but it's a bit hit and miss.

Posts are late, sorry, as I can no longer lj at work which is where I used to get a surprising amount of admin work done... But very very soon I swear.

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

Ah, well please tell Erin I hope she has an amazing time. Danielle mentioned last year that she was Auckland-bound but might still be able to come if it was in the holidays, so if she can that'd be great. If not, I'm glad to hear you'll still be making it on your own, we'll be delighted to see you again.

Update posts are up now and will be continuing to go up over the next few days. Feel free to email or tweet me if you want to too.

Re: Hey, is Get Together happening this year?

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

Got the first couple of admin posts up! I really have left it to the last second this year, and I'm sorry if that has made things difficult for you. :-(

I really hope we will see you again, and if you are keen to make presentations that you are able to do so.

*crosses fingers*

*kicks work*

Re: Hey, is Get Together happening this year?

[mific (from livejournal.com)]

Unfortunately I just learned yesterday that a close friend's very ill and in hospital, and it's not likely to be sorted quickly. Sorry to miss it but I don't think I can risk the time away right now. I'll aim for next year instead - hope you all have fun.
ETA: By the way, if you wanted someone to set up a Dreamwidth and/or Tumblr alternate site for the comm I'd be happy to assist with either.

Re: Hey, is Get Together happening this year?

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

Awww, I'm really sorry to hear that. Both for absence, and also for your friend. I hope it works out as best as possible as soon as possible.

Definitely see you next year! I promise to have sorted something out re comms in good order by then!

I may take you up on the tumblr thing, but I am also going to be setting up a discord channel if you are there??? And if not I promise it's super easy...

Re: Hey, is Get Together happening this year?

[mific (from livejournal.com)]

Not heard of Discord, but it looks simple to set up. A platform'd only really work though if people could set it up to get email notifications of a new post there, (or with tumblr it'd come up on your dash), so am unsure if a chat platform'd work that way. Anyway, you'll probably all talk about the options in October.

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

Are we going to be seeing you this year? No worries if something's come up.

[thecuriouskitty.livejournal.com]

ah I am fail and forgot about this entirely after being swamped with life. NEXT YEAR I SWEAR!!! Is livejournal going to continue to be the Method of Communication?

[arysteia.livejournal.com]

Unclear at this point. Can you go fill out this google form and I will send out a newsletter with updates at some point/let everyone know where to from here re comms. Feel free to forward the link to the others.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKY4hQdLGjuPc347fdLsiYhYYWvCCV5lwi7kw3bq046N9pDw/viewform?c=0&w=1